ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WMAR) — Maryland's Comptroller says he's had enough of all the traffic issues on the Bay Bridge.
On Monday, Peter Franchot said he intends to send a letter to Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn, requesting that the Bay Bridge Deck Rehabilitation Project be shut down.
Since September 30, the right lane of the westbound span of the bridge has been closed around the clock for repairs.
RELATED: Right lane on westbound side of Bay Bridge closes around the clock through April 2020
The closures have severely impacted two-way traffic operations, causing extreme backups and delays for at times up to 14 miles on the eastbound side especially.
Since the start of the project, the MDTA has tried to mitigate some of the traffic concerns by making the Bay Bridge tolls cashless on Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 10 p.m.
In the cases of severe traffic backups the MDTA said they would allow drivers to travel eastbound and westbound on the westbound span at reduced speeds, increasing travel lanes to three on the eastbound side and one on the westbound.
But Franchot says none of that has worked, as people continue struggling getting to work on time and kids are missing school.
Franchot says the problem has gotten so bad that bus riders headed to the shore were stranded in Annapolis on Friday.
As of now the right side westbound lane is scheduled to remain closed around the clock through April 2020.
Here is Franchot's full statement on twitter.
This afternoon, I will be sending a letter to Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn to request that the Bay Bridge Deck Rehabilitation Project be shut down for the fall and winter months. My full statement below. pic.twitter.com/7FlW5bHShI
— Comptroller Peter Franchot (@peterfranchot) October 7, 2019
